Rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally continuous rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers with longitudinally spaced, laterally extending lines of perforation on the web between individual wrappers effective for permitting hand separation of wrappers from the web along each line of perforation. Method of making and method of using such a rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/428,292, filed Nov. 22, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to coin wrappers.

BACKGROUND

Countries throughout the world have long included coins in several denominations. The most popular denominations in the United States are the quarter, dime, nickel, and penny. These coins are used daily by businesses and individuals. In small quantities, coins are easily stored and transported. In larger quantities the coins become bulky, heavy, and messy to use or store. A common practice by businesses and individuals is to contain large numbers of coins in “rolls”. Coins of common denomination are contained or rolled in formed coin wrappers. The formed coin wrappers are made to hold a particular number of coins to equal a given dollar amount. For example, quarters are rolled into $10 rolls, dimes in $5 rolls, nickels in $2 rolls, and pennies in $0.50 rolls. This makes for easier storage and transport, and easy determination of total amounts of currency.

Coin wrappers are provided to the consumer, whether a business or individual, as individual coin wrappers. During manufacture the individually formed coin wrappers intended for bulk sale are formed from a continuous web of paper stock by printing, rolling, gluing, flattening, cutting and boxing. As they are cut, the individual wrappers often fall into a disorganized heap that must later be sorted and organized for packaging. Upon packaging the wrappers are typically inserted, aligned, and stacked in boxes. This method of packaging is labor intensive.

Therefore, a need exists for a neat, compact, and user friendly grouping of coin wrappers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of a first aspect of the invention is a longitudinally continuous rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers with longitudinally spaced, laterally extending lines of perforation on the web between individual wrappers effective for permitting hand separation of wrappers from the web along each line of perforation.

A second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention is a longitudinally elongated rolled web of flattened tubing defining superimposed upper and lower planar panels, the web having a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending lines of perforation which extend through both the upper and lower panels so as to permit hand separation of individual lengths of tubing along each line of perforation.

A second aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing an article of commerce. The method includes the steps of (a) cutting a longitudinally elongated master web into a plurality of longitudinally elongated strips each having first and second lateral side portions, (b) forming at least one of the strips into a longitudinally elongated tube by overlapping and joining the first and second lateral side portions of the strip, (c) flattening the tube so as to define (i) a pair of longitudinally extending parallel crease lines along the longitudinal length of the tube, and (ii) superimposed upper and lower planar panels, (d) perforating the flattened tube to create a plurality of uniformly longitudinally spaced laterally extending lines of perforation which extend through both the upper and lower panels of the tube so as to permit hand separation of individual lengths of tubing along each line of perforation, and (e) rolling the perforated flattened tube into a roll.

A third aspect of the invention is a method of creating a roll of coins. The method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a longitudinally continuous rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers with longitudinally spaced, laterally extending lines of perforation on the web between individual wrappers, (b) separating a single coin wrapper from the web along a line of perforation, and (c) inserting a predetermined number of coins having the same size, shape and denomination into the separated coin wrapper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded top view of two individual wrappers from the invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING A BEST MODE

Nomenclature

-   10 Roll of Coin Wrappers -   20 Web of Formed Coin Wrappers -   21 Individual Coin Wrapper -   22 Line of Perforation -   23 First Edge -   24 Second Edge -   25 Core -   26 Leading Individual Coin Wrapper     Definitions

As utilized herein, the phrase “formed coin wrapper” means a tube formed from sheet stock.

As utilized herein, the phrase “flattened,” when used to describe a formed coin wrapper, means a radially compressed formed coin wrapper whereby a pair of longitudinally extending parallel crease lines are formed along the length of the coin wrapper and the coin wrapper defines superimposed, substantially flat upper and lower panels.

Construction

As shown in FIG. 1 the roll 10 is comprised of a continuous flattened web 20 of formed coin wrappers 21, with each coin wrapper 21 defined on the web 20 by lines of perforation 22. The individual coin wrappers 21 are known and in common usage throughout the world. The wrappers 21 may be made from a variety of materials such as plastic or paper. The roll 10 is particularity suited for use with the paper variety of wrappers 21. Therefore, the remainder of the discussion will be based upon individual coin wrappers 21 made from paper.

The preferred process used to construct the roll 10 begins with a master roll (not shown) of paper sheet stock (not shown). The preferred sheet stock is Kraft paper. As the master roll is unrolled it proceeds through a cutting mechanism (not shown) that longitudinally divides the master roll of paper into individual strips of paper (not shown). The lateral dimension of the strips of paper depends on the coin size to be inserted in the individual coin wrappers 21. The individual strips are then fed through a printing mechanism (not shown) to apply the appropriate indicia to the outside of the individual formed coin wrappers 21 (e.g., $5 dimes, 25/$1 Euro, etc.). Alternatively, the master roll may be printed prior to cutting or the flattened tube, as described below, may be printed. The individual strips then proceed into a fold and glue mechanism (not shown). The fold and glue mechanism folds the longitudinal edges 23 and 24 together and glues one edge onto the other edge to form a longitudinally continuous tube (unnumbered). The longitudinally continuous tube is then flattened. After flattening, the longitudinally continuous tube is perforated laterally from a first edge 23 to a second edge 24 along the longitudinally continuous tube at a predetermined longitudinal spacing to form lines of perforation 22 defining individual coin wrappers 21.

FIG. 2 shows two individual coin wrappers 21 from the longitudinally continuous web 20 of formed coin wrappers 21. The longitudinal length of the predetermined interval is dependent on the coin intended to be inserted in the resulting individual coin wrappers 21. The longitudinal length of the individually formed coin wrappers 21 for each denomination of coin is known in the art. The longitudinally continuous web 20 of formed coin wrappers 21 is then rolled onto a core 25 until the desired number of individual coin wrappers 21 is contained on the core 25 so as to form a final roll 10. Once the desired number of individual formed coin wrappers 21 is contained on the final roll 10 the longitudinally continuous web 20 of formed coin wrappers 21 is cut laterally to end the final roll 10 and begin a new final roll 10.

Use

The roll 10 can be packaged and shipped to the consumer. The consumer then unrolls the roll 10 until a leading individual coin wrapper 26 is unrolled from the roll 10 and presented for dispensing. The roll 10 may be enclosed in a container (not shown) for storage and dispensing, such as a cardboard box (not shown) with an appropriately sized and positioned slit (not shown) in one end for the leading coin wrapper 26 to protrude. At the line of perforation 22 between the unrolled leading coin wrapper 26 and the rest of the roll 10, the consumer may pull the leading coin wrapper 26 at a lateral angle relative to the roll 10 so as to disengage the leading coin wrapper 26 from the roll 10 along the line of perforation 22. The individual coin wrapper 21 may then be unflattened and filled with the proper coins (not shown). 

1. An article of commerce, comprising a longitudinally continuous rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers with longitudinally spaced, laterally extending lines of perforation on the web between individual wrappers effective for permitting hand separation of wrappers from the web along each line of perforation.
 2. The article of commerce of claim 1 wherein the web is formed of paper sheet stock.
 3. The article of commerce of claim 1 wherein the coin wrappers bear indicia indicating a monetary denomination.
 4. An article of commerce, comprising a longitudinally elongated rolled web of flattened tubing defining superimposed upper and lower planar panels, the web having a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending lines of perforation which extend through both the upper and lower panels so as to permit hand separation of individual lengths of tubing along each line of perforation.
 5. The article of commerce of claim 4 wherein the tube is formed of paper sheet stock.
 6. The article of commerce of claim 4 wherein the tubing is sized to permit use of individual lengths of tubing as a coin wrapper.
 7. The article of commerce of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal spacing between consecutive lines of perforation is sufficient to permit use of the individual lengths of tubing as a coin wrapper.
 8. The article of commerce of claim 4 wherein the rolled web bears indicia between the lines of perforation indicating a monetary denomination.
 9. A method of manufacturing an article of commerce, comprising: (a) cutting a longitudinally elongated master web into a plurality of longitudinally elongated strips each having first and second lateral side portions, (b) forming at least one of the strips into a longitudinally elongated tube by overlapping and joining the first and second lateral side portions of the strip, (c) flattening the tube so as to define (i) a pair of longitudinally extending parallel crease lines along the longitudinal length of the tube, and (ii) superimposed upper and lower planar panels, (d) perforating the flattened tube to create a plurality of uniformly longitudinally spaced laterally extending lines of perforation which extend through both the upper and lower panels of the tube so as to permit hand separation of individual lengths of tubing along each line of perforation, and (e) rolling the perforated flattened tube into a roll.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of printing indicia of a monetary denomination along the longitudinal length of the at least one strip.
 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of printing indicia of a monetary denomination along the longitudinal length of the strips.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second lateral side portions of the strip are joined with an adhesive.
 13. A method of creating a roll of coins, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a longitudinally continuous rolled web of flattened formed coin wrappers with longitudinally spaced, laterally extending lines of perforation on the web between individual wrappers, (b) separating a single coin wrapper from the web along a line of perforation, and (c) inserting a predetermined number of coins having the same size, shape and denomination into the separated coin wrapper. 